17 basic car maintenance services you must get done after 6 months

Lesson 6. By [Automovill.com] powered by {DigiMusk.com}

Photo by Joris V. on Unsplash

Did you get a new car recently? Congrats! Initial days with your car would be exciting, amazing and enthralling. You will find yourself all time excited about taking your car out. A few days more, and this car becomes your pride.

Further, a few days more, and your car will need a proper care. Ever thought, how prepared you are? Buying a car, riding a car and maintaining a car is totally 3 different things (and the later part carries more importance). Car maintenance needs you to have a basic knowledge of the car service so that the moment you want to spend money, you get the maximum return on your investment.

So we assume you have bumped into this article because you were searching for the car service details.

Car services are broadly of two types — Interim service and Full Service. Interim service contains 35 to 40 checkpoints while full service contains more than 60 checkpoints. Full service will include all the points in an Interim Service as well as some additional checks, top-ups, and changes including the air filter which is replaced based on the mileage and vehicle usage.It is advisable to get interim service done once every 6 months and full service done annually.

Ideally, once you cross 6000 miles or 6 months, you need an interim car service done. And, we list down here the 40 things an interim car service should include. Thank us later post you get your car serviced!

1. Excessive Oil Leaks check. The vast majority of leaks are due to degraded engine gaskets, oil pan leaks, oil seals or bad connections. An oil leak that is left alone can cause seals or rubber hoses to wear prematurely.
2. Oil filter replacement with every oil change is a preventative measure. This removes grit from your oil, which prevents such contaminants from entering the engine itself when oil circulates and lubricates its parts
3. Air filter replacement. Air filter when gets too dirty, or clogged, makes the engine unable to suck enough air into the combustion chambers.
4. Check tire pressure. Get it fixed if the tire pressure is not optimum and never inflate the tire to its maximum capacity. Ideally, you should check every time you fill up the gas, every 10-degree change in temperature, or every 30 days.
5. Check wheel alignment. Wheel alignment ensures your tires to last longer, and your vehicle to drive smoother. When your vehicle pulls to the left or right while driving straight, there might be the need to align the wheels.
6. Check wheel cylinders. If the wheel cylinders stick or leak, the brakes can be pulled. it may allow a complete loss of hydraulic pressure in the affected brake circuit. This, in turn, can cause the brakes to fail.
7. Check clutch operation. If you sense any abnormal pedal behavior or difficulty in shifting gears, your clutch might be at fault. The engine and the wheel will have a weak link and this might gradually unable the engine to move the car.
8. Check drive shaft joints. A sure sign of something breaking up inside the bearings of a joint is rust-colored dust around the spider. Fit a new joint or shaft immediately.

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9. Operation of all lights. Check all the obligatory lights side and tail lights, headlamps (main and dipped beams), direction indicators, stop lights and a rear number-plate light.

10. Battery condition. You must check the car battery leakage, if you find any, the gunk will need to be removed. Sometimes, the engine light appears when the battery goes weak.

11. Exhaust leak check. Exhaust fumes contain carbon mono-oxide. The exhaust leaks can cause a loud rumbling noise, can decrease fuel efficiency and can damage the catalytic converter.

12. Brake calipers for leak and security. They work together with the brake pads and rotors, along with the rest of the hydraulic system, to slow and stop the vehicle. If you find the calipers leaking, get these fixed immediately.

13. Handbrake linkages. If you find your car vehicle stopping from rolling forward or backward, the handbrakes may be at fault. Check your handbrakes monthly.

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14. Check brake fluid level. Brake fluid is in-compressible and used to transmit your foot pressure on the brake pedal through the master cylinder to the brake calipers in order to press the pads against the discs. If the brake fluid level goes too low, your car braking performance will be reduced.

15. Wheel bearings for excessive play or noise. If you notice a grinding or grating noise coming from your wheel, stop your car immediately and check for the wheel bearings.

16. Check radiator. A radiator is a type of heat exchanger, designed to transfer heat from the hot coolant that flows through it to the air blown through it by the fan. The radiator in your vehicle cools your engine and needs water and coolant (antifreeze) to function. If the coolant has a sludgy, oily surface, immediately take the vehicle to your mechanic to check for internal head gasket leakage.

17. Tyre depth check. New tires typically come with 10/32” or 11/32” tread depths, and some truck, SUV and winter tires may have deeper tread depths than other models. You should replace the tire when they reach 2/32'.A simple way to check your tire tread depth is by using a tread depth gauge. You can find tire tread depth gauges at your local auto parts store.

You might be well aware that prevention is better than cure. Regularly servicing your car will undoubtedly improve the lifespan of the vehicle. Getting your car serviced every 6 months is the healthiest decision for your car. You can also stop yourself from incurring expensive car repairs if you maintain your car like it is your own baby.

Also, the second-hand market is always competitive, with buyers expecting more for their money. A car with evidence of regular servicing — or even better a full-service history — is likely to attract more potential buyers and a higher selling price.